Buffalo Ornithological Society
Birding Western New York and the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario

Common Redpoll - © Sue Barth

These two juvenile white-morph Ross’s Geese were a spectacular find by Rebecca Ploeger on the 7th at LaSalle Park in Buffalo. Photo by Becky Harbison.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro caught up with the pair of Ross’s Geese at LaSalle Park a bit later in the afternoon on the 7th, with the sun casting a beautiful glow on these special visitors.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth found this Lapland Longspur on the 4th at Sturgeon Point. The bird was in the company of a small flock of Snow Buntings.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image that Sue Barth took of the Lapland Longspur that she located at Sturgeon Point along the south shore of Lake Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth found this White-eyed Vireo at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 5th. This south-eastern species has become almost annual in the BOS study area over the past 5 years.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Kevin Rybczynski found this juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake at the source of the Niagara River from the West Side Rowing Club on the 6th. Bill Massaro took this photo on the day the bird was first reported.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This spectacular find, a Hudsonian Godwit, was made by Joel Strong on the 5th in Orleans County, Lyndonville, NY. The bird continued into the 6th when it was last observed fleeing two Peregrine Falcons! Photo by Rob Sielaff.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Steven Pitt photographed this Dunlin at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 2nd. This shorebird species is one of the latest autumn shorebird migrants and sports a fairly long, decurved bill.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Fox Sparrow posed nicely for Sue Barth at West Seneca Wetlands on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This group of female-type Black Scoters was a new species for the Woodlawn Beach SP checklist; added by Sue Barth on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Don Dixon caught one of the LaSalle Park Ross’s Geese in flight on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Cattle Egret, found by Katie Bristow, was photographed by Marcie Jacklin on the 2nd at Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Lisa Bacon caught up with the Niagara Falls, Ontario Cattle Egret on the 3rd. This bird was initially found on the 2nd by Katie Bristow.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This female Harlequin Duck made a brief appearance at the Port Weller east pier on the 2nd. Photo by Diana Werezak.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

It’s starting to snow…buntings! Gale VerHague photographed these beauties at Dunkirk Harbor on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Cattle Egret was a great find by Gale VerHague in the Town of Sheridan, Chautauqua County on the 8th. Who would’ve guessed it would be hanging out with a cow?!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Northern Shrike was photographed at Reinstein Woods by Sue Barth on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This intermediate morph Rough-legged Hawk made its way to Fort Erie on the 8th. Walter Parker photographed this bird along Ott Road.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The long-staying Black-bellied Whistling-Duck continues at Dufferin Islands, Niagara Falls, Ontario. This image was taken on the 7th by James Kamstra.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This late Common Tern was a great find and superbly documented by Gale VerHague at Sunset Bay State Marine Park, Chautauqua County on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Originally found by Kevin Rybczynski a few days ago, this juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake continued into the 11th when Don Dixon took this photo. The bird has been reliable at the source of the Niagara from Bird Island Pier and West Side Rowing Club.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Not typical Snow Bunting habitat, but birds don’t always follow the rules. Gale VerHague photographed these little fairies at Sunset Bay State Marine Park on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This stunning Ring-necked Pheasant posed like a champ for Sue Barth near Forestville, Chautauqua County on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Northern Mockingbirds are still quite local in the BOS study area. This bird teed up for Bill Massaro at the Union Ship Canal along the Buffalo Outer Harbor on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Reinstein Woods hosted this Barred Owl on the 8th where is was documented by Daniel Mlodozeniec.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

And another…the past week or so has produced Cattle Egrets at multiple locations! Josh Ketry found this Erie County bird at Hamburg Town Beach on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 13th, this Laughing Gull showed up around 9:30 am at Lakeside Park, St. Catharine’s, Ontario and initially reported by Kevin Empey. The bird continued until at least 2:00pm. This photo was taken by Barb Charlton.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Laughing Gull, also in adult basic plumage, was photographed by Joel Strong around 4:45pm on the 13th at Olcott, Niagara County, NY. Could this have been the same bird seen earlier in the day at St. Catharine’s, Ontario?
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths…thank you kindly for your photographic clout! Ryan photographed the St. Catharine’s Lakeside Park, Ontario adult basic Laughing Gull on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This immature female Snowy Owl seems to be the first of the season. Photographed by Joel Strong on the 16th at the Olcott Pier, Niagara County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This gorgeous light-morph Rough-legged Hawk was photographed while hunting a field near Niagara Falls, Ontario on the 10th by James Kroeker.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Dufferin Islands, Ontario Black-bellied Whistling-Duck that appeared over the summer might be thinking to attempt an overwintering…not sure that will end well?! Aldo Bertucci documented this bird on the 16th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Over the past several years, the BOS study area has hosted multiple overwintering Gray Catbirds. This bird, photographed by Sue Barth at Reinstein Woods on the 15th, seems to be setting itself up for such an attempt.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Merlin was practicing some leg lifts for its next hunting foray at Reinstein Woods. Becky Harbison took this photo on the 11th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

2021 is the year of the Cattle Egret. This individual was found and photographed by Dorlisa Robinson along the break wall near the Peace Bridge, Fort Erie on the 17th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo by Ryan Griffiths of his sweet find Northern Gannet on Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River on the 18th. The bird was cooperative for about a 1/2 day and several observers from both sides of the border were able to see this bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

David Woodhouse took this photo of Griffiths’ Northern Gannet on the 18th from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

And yet another Cattle Egret…this one was found by Tim Lenz near Albion, Orleans County on the 20th. Photo by Celeste Morien.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joel Strong found this female King Eider offshore of Golden Hill SP on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This late White-rumped Sandpiper was found on the 20th by Bruce Hoover on the Wilson Pier. Phil Mills relocated and photographed the bird on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This stunning adult Peregrine Falcon was photographed by Lynda Goodridge along the Niagara River at Fort Erie on the 23rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This adult basic Little Gull was an unexpected find from Beaver Island SP by Rob Sielaff on the 20th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Celeste Morien found this group of Sandhill Cranes on the 25th along Sour Springs Road, Medina, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A very late Northern Parula was seen in a mixed flock of songbirds at Beaver Island on the 20th. Move along, little buddy!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This Snowy Owl was ducking in out of the wind among the Red Osier Dogwood at the Buffalo Harbor SP on the 26th. Photo by Becky Harbison.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Karen Lee Lewis caught up with an adult Little Gull at Beaver Island SP on the 26th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A very late out of season Baltimore Oriole seen in Elma, NY on November 22nd.
Contributed by: Bill Massaro

Willie D’Anna, Betsy Potter and Joel Strong located this Razorbill at the mouth of the Niagara from Fort Niagara SP on the 28th. The bird has been sighted over subsequent days; here photographed by Ryan Griffiths from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario on the 29th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This very late Eastern Phoebe was detected by Sue Barth at Reinstein Woods on the 29th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Devin Banning and Kaitlin Davis found a 1st cycle Glaucous Gull at Dunkirk Harbor on the 28th. Bruce Robinson caught up with the bird on the 30th when he took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann